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If you felt a little different on Thursday and you live in the Seattle Metropolitan area, don’t worry- you were just experiencing a contact high from the anticipatory energy exuding the party people as they eagerly awaited the Subterfuge Launch Party at the exclusive Sorrento Hotel on Madison Ave.

Sophistication and Edge: Sarah E. Caples and Cass Redstone

Excitement kissed the hot summer air as six o’clock rolled around and the details were coming into place. Subterfuge Editor Sarah Elizabeth Caples was joined by some of her closest friends, including Boeing and fashion ace Korene Hubacka; multifaceted artist, polo-pro and entrepreneur, and President of Product Creation Studio, Cameron Smith; Ecopreneur, Sheldon Rosevear; the dapper Ric Merrifield, author of RETHINK and fellow Subterfuge contributor with his gorgeous, stylish date Samantha Temple, of branding company Salt; Sheldon Rosevear, owner of  Immaculate Window and Gutter Cleaning; her drop-dead-gorgeous, gentleman of a husband Seth Noble; Phil Bayley, owner of  Bayley Financial;  Volterra's  Michelle Quisenberry; branding brass, Urban Influence's  Pete Wright, who generously and humbly treated the entire group to their luxurious pre-party dinner; Dariusz Robert Kaliszuk,who looked sexy and sharp with his pop-of-color red tie; cosmopolitan socialite Jiawen Shi; and the ever charming home stylist of Rosichelli and Mendoza  Eduardo Mendoza-Nunez,for a pre-party dinner in the Sorrento’s indulgent Hunt Club to toast the beautiful hostess and show their support for one of Seattle’s most fascinating and talented entrepreneurs.

The Cool Cat

As the sun set and the evening began, Seattle’s partying elite were rising to the seventh floor of the city’s famed hotel for the party so skillfully planned by Kristen Shea, assisted by Stacy Kvam of SKweddingandeventdesign.com, without whom none of the festivities would have been possible. Of course it doesn’t hurt when the hostess has a personal relationship with Barabara Malone, the positively resplendent owner of the Sorrento who, along with the hotel’s General Manager Jeff Jobe welcomed the opportunity to provide Ms. Caples with the chicest venue in the city for the up-and-coming magazine’s debut.

 Beautiful people began spilling through the luxurious golden doors into the Sorrento’s notorious penthouse suite and onto the veranda overlooking the simmering summer night. Subterfuge’s own contributing writer, the positively gorgeous and demure Breonie Baylov, was a vision as the elevator doors opened and she welcomed each fascinating arrival into the effervescent get-together. Guests worked their way to the immaculate, high-ceilinged bar-room where throughout the night, several private conversations took place on the cozy couches. As they entered the popular Sorrento Penthouse they were greeted by another of Subterfuge’s contributing writers, the edgy, rock ‘n’ roll chic Molly Bennett, who served Prosecco so generously donated by Volterra restaurant owner, Michelle Quisenberry, who was show-stopping in a gorgeous, Trina Turk, metallic dress. Artists Josh Sternberg,a fabulous Chicago transplant; and Juan Alonso, 2007 recipient of PONCHO's Artist of the Year, made an appearance looking cavalier and creative giving the party some bohemian flair.

Above: Olde Guarde Glamour: Haile Chestnut IV M.D. and a femme fatale.

Kiss and Tell: Molly Bennet and Breonie Baylov

Spied chatting up Miss Bennett was the stylish and talented photographer, William Bossen. As guests passed their way onto the veranda, they were captivated- and tempted- by Jenna Easton’s display of glittering, three-tiered cakes accompanied by their cupcake companions, copiously provided by her company, Let Them Eat Cake. Between red-velvet and double-chocolate, “no” just wasn’t in this party’s vocabulary. Not to mention Liquid Kitchen’s irresistible cocktail, Subterfuge Summer Fizz, specially designed by the exquisite Kathy Casey, a vision of the hot summer month in hot pink and silver details, who provided her famed services as a gift to her dear friend. Sarah Caples pulled off the impossible task of socializing with everyone in attendance while still looking positively regal in her black and white Proenza Schouler gown with a gorgeous draping train. Many male attendees offered their assistance with the train, but she managed herself in the most countess-meets-socialite way that Seattle’s ever seen. Sarah completed her look with an opulent Nazy Mousavi designed ring, available at Luly Yang, but graciously donated to the hostess on her big night by the designer herself. Carole McClellan, leather and fur desgner also made an appearance, and rumors are that she plans to outfit some of the Subterfuge crowd with leather leggings for fall. Carole has designed garments for Ann Wilson and Chris Cornell.

Mixologists at The Liquid Kitchen with Kathy Casey

*Kathy Casey's Liquid Kitchen Creation, the fabu cocktail recipe that had party guests enchanted detailed below.

Outside, as a cool night breeze brushed the many tanned, bare shoulders, the veranda was heating up with intimate conversations and amusement as some of Seattle’s most electric circles intertwined for a night. Among some of the party-goers spotted enjoying the refreshing night air were the stunning and stylish Sheila Nageal-Otter; Dr. Haile Chestnut IV of old Seattle garde; John Akamatsu; Pamela Sitt, former pop culture and style writer for the Seattle Times who now writes TV Addict blog for Real Networks; Stylist Rebecca Luke and her rocker husband; financial advisor Steve Voiland with his style maven wife Lydia; Reham Abdelshahid, Kate Neschke and Trent Jackson.

Gorgeous Persian party guests chat with Erik Lindstrom, Kate Neschke

DJ Miguel Alvarado, Eduardo Nunez, DJ Mitch Bate

As if the party weren’t already blessed with enough talented artistes, the three hottest DJs between Seattle and Bellevue, Pooyan Rad, Mitch Bate and subject of Subterfuge’s premiere issue Miguel Alvarado, elevated the heat with their stylish swagger and attracted the attention of multiple ladies.

Korene Hubacka, Cameron Smith, Phil Bayely, Cass Redstone, Fredda Goldfarb, AJ Kamra, Steven Goldfarb.

AJ Kamra, jet setter and philanthropist, wore to-die-for plaid trousers with a pale salmon collared shirt that accented his handsome tawny skin, and impressive networker JJ McKay, who was one-of-a-kind in his smooth black-and-blue detailed button-up, were some of the party-goers meeting the Subterfuge hostess for the first time. Interior designer, Philip Sternola looked effortlessly handsome in white, as he was seen with nearly every attendee and an ice cold Corona. Business owner and Bravo! Club member, Marianna Veress, was so captivating with her edgy hardware-halter neckline and alluring accent that a party-goer had to chase her down as she called it a night- just to steal a moment with her.

Above: Philip Sternola and JJ McKay

Balcony Mischief: Lydia and Steve Voiland, Rebecca and her rocker husband

Seattle style guy and Oslo's store owner,John McDowell definitely caught a few glances in his unparalleled ensemble: a blue-and-white paisley blazer over a salmon button-up chemise, as he and the ever-charming and artistically gifted Eduardo Mendoza-Nunezstopped for a photo together. Multi-talented alchemist and Lord of the Rings, Bruce Magnotti,escorted his beautiful and swanky sweetheart, Simone Garrigues, stopping to chat with several party people as they made their way to the balcony that was nearly a party in-and-of-itself as it smoldered on throughout the night. Caught on the balcony steps were nearly all of the Subterfuge set, plus Seattle headliners like radio personality Rick Robertson. Captured in the candid photo were Mike Reavy, Michelle Quisenberry, Aron Swanson, Cass Redstone in a scene-stealing leather jacket and white-rimmed sunglasses, Sheldon Rosevear, Korene Hubacka who exuded a youthful sexiness in a silky little black dress with layered silver necklaces, and a suave Scott Rabinowitz, the owner of Russian bath house Banya 5, among others.

Samantha Temple, Ric Merrfield, Korene Hubacka, Scott Rabinowitz

Also looking smooth and brooding as writers are prone to do, Ryan Winfield Thompson, was definitely a favorite among the ladies as he and his equally handsome brothers, Aron Thompson who owned his stylish ensemble of a partially open, white collared shirt under a killer grey vest and a black newsboy cap, and Justin Thompson who looked like he’d just returned from an exotic location with his tanned skin and blonde hair, worked their way through the crowd and admirers.

The Notorious Brothers: Justin, Ryan and Aron Thompson

In one of the most admired outfits of the evening, Eric Robison absolutely demanded double-takes in his bold yet sleek, red button-up shirt, minus just enough top buttons to reveal a simple silver necklace that balanced out his daring, shades-of-blue, vertically-striped, fitted pants. Needless to say, he wore the pants very well. Also looking dapper were gracious and charming Brian Pelham and Joseph Murphy, in one of the most popular colors of the evening- cool, effortless white. The Sorrento had the treat of hosting the beautiful Fredda Goldfarb, whose glossy brunette hair was stunning with her electric blue smock, and jeweler husband Steven Goldfarb, of the incomparably lavish jewelry brand. Real Estate buff Chris Bierrum chatted with an impeccable Danny Nunez, both in classic black blazers over crisp white-collared button ups, and Dayna Anderson was positively alluring in a nearly olive-green leopard-print dress with plunging neckline, as she sipped on one of Kathy Casey’s delicious libations and posed with John Smiley.

Designers of Neo Dandy clothing line

As the hours crept towards midnight the ambience was buoyantly indulgent and the seventh floor was enviably privy to the best sights, conversations and moments in the city. Smart and sexy socialite, Jiawen Shi, in one of the sassiest little black-and-white dresses ever, was caught in a playful moment as she was scooped up honeymoon style for a picture- every other man in the room was either jealously eyeing the lucky man whose arms she was in or the photographer getting the excellent moment caught on film. The playfulness only escalated as the night wore on, and while the masterful cocktails no doubt had something to do with it, it was only encouraged by the music, artfully selected by the gifted and accomplished Mark Pickerel, who was seen chatting with his beautiful friend Christine Scharrer. Thankfully, the fun and funky Sarah Skinner was there to catch all the delicious moments with her professional eye and lens.

Seth Noble and Mark Pickerel  

As “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones poured out of the speakers, the clock was ticking away the end of one party and gesturing to the beginning of another. The party was just getting started for many of the sparkling partiers, and as some chose to abandon their heels or blazers, they cozily packed into the gilded elevator that delivered them to The Hunt Club’s after-hours lounge, where they sipped and sketched out the rest of their evening. Allegedly, The Hideout was a chosen after-party destination for many, but some, like pro-football player Skyler Fulton, had to catch an early flight the next morning and instead chose to ride out the high of one of the best parties Seattle will ever see. Very rarely does a party in Seattle get to boast the uninhibited summer heat and the most stylish, luxurious, talented people in the city. As one of Sarah Caples’ closest friends noted after the night was over, “New York visited Seattle for an evening,” and there are very few who can pull off such a feat the way this unbelievable hostess, assisted by some of the best friends anyone could ask for, did. If there was any doubt that the stars aligned for the infamous July 16 party, all anyone had to do was join Seattle’s elite on the Penthouse’s exclusive veranda- and look up.

Above: Politico Colleen Kerr, her boyfriend, ex-Google director Peter Wilson, and bravo! board member Marianna Veress

 *Kathy Casey's Liquid Kitchen Creation, the fabu cocktail recipe that had party guests enchanted:

Subterfuge Summer Fizz

Cruzan Silver Rum, Rosemary,

Fresh Lime, Hibiscus Syrup, Soda Fizz

 Created by Kathy Casey, Liquid Kitchen

Special Thanks to Lucy Robichaud of Beam Global Spirits